Arm support for invalid walkers

ABSTRACT

An arm support for invalids using walkers which is adjustable in all directions, either longitudinally, diagonally or vertically, and is capable of being placed on either the right-hand side of the upper tubular rails of the walker, or the left-hand side, and, if desired, could be placed on the front upper member of the walker.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Mabel L. Wei-t2- 1301 N. Astor St., Chicago, 111. 60610 [211 App]. No. 27,716 [22] Filed Apr. 13, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 7, 1971 [54] ARM SUPPORT FOR INVALID WALKERS 1 Claim, 4 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 135/45 A [51] lnt.C1 A6lh 3/00 [50] Field of Search 135/45, 45 A, 47, 47.5, 51, 52; 297/5, 6, 115, 41 1-422 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 542,390 7/1895 Linn 297/411 X 2,362,466 11/1944 Carter 135/45 A X 3,206,249 9/1965 297/115 X FOREIGN PATENTS 858,163 1/1961 Great Britain 135/45 A Primary Examiner-Peter M. Caun Attorney-Rummler & Snow ABSTRACT: An arm support for invalids using walkers which is adjustable in all directions, either longitudinally, diagonally or vertically, and is capable of being placed on either the righthand side of the upper tubular rails of the walker, or the lefthand side, and, if desired, could be placed on the front upper member ofthc walker.

PATENTEDDEB 7197: 1625237,

lNVE/VTOR MABEL L. WERTZ B zjmwww ARM SUPPORT FOR INVALID WALKERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION People who require the use of invalid walkers very often have arm trouble. Either one of the arms is too weak or broken, or the person has been stricken with a stroke leaving one arm paralyzed or useless. There are many reasons why people can use only one arm in using a walker due to some malfunction of the lower limbs. The only invalid walkers known provided with an assist extending upwardly from the upper portion of the walker are crutches. Crutches are useless to invalids not having normal function of both arms and hands. It was to overcome these problems that the present invention was conceived.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An invalid walker having a vertically adjustable assist forming an arm support, whicharm support is capable of adjustment laterally on a diagonal plane in both directions from point of attachment to the upper rail of the walker and being capable of being shiftable longitudinally along the upper rail of the walker. The arm support is a curved or arcuate shape whereby to support the arm and/or the arm and hand of an invalid whereby the walker may be propelled using only one arm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEDRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view showing the device of the present invention anchored to the left upper rail of the walker;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the walker taken from the left of FIG. 1 with the upper tubular rail broken away to show the entire structure of the present invention secured to the right upper rail of the walker;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged elevational view of the device of the present invention with the upper rail of the walker broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken on the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invalid walker generally indicated by the numeral is old in the art and comprises a pair of front vertical tubular support members 12-14 held in spaced relationship by the horizontal tubular braces 16-18. Each of the side frames is of one-piece construction forming the upper rails 20-22 and the rear diagonal members 24-26. The members 24-26 are held in spaced relation to the members 12-14 respectively by horizontal tubular braces 28-30 respectively. Each of the members 12, I4, 24, 26 is provided with casters 32 on its distal end for ready mobility ofthe invalid walker.

As is customary, a person having difficulty walking because of disability to one or both of the lower limbs usually grasps the upper horizontal tubular rails 20-22 with their hands to support themselves so they may walk comfortably and relieve full weight on lower limbs.

The device of the present invention as illustrated in the drawings consists of a split U-clamp 34 arranged to fit over tubular rail 22. The lower free ends of the U-clamp are provided with downwardly extending lips 36 and each is provided with opposed apertures to receive the nut-and-bolt combination 38, to secure the clamp to the rail. A vertically extending tube 40 such as illustrated in FIG. 3 is integrally formed on the upper end of the clamp 34. A slightly larger tube 42 is telescopically arranged on the tube 40 and the tube 42 contains a series of vertically spaced openings 44 into which the springloaded detent 46 is capable of seating for lengthening or shortening the two tubes. The upper distal end of the tube 42 contains an integrally formed semicylindrical-shaped armrest 48.

Depending upon the size of the person using the walker, the telescoping members may be raised or lowered by depressing the detent 46 so as to free the member 42.

Since people run the gamut in height, it is, of course, necessary to adjust the armrest 48, as should be obvious. I? merely loosening the bolt-nut combination 38, the clamp 3 may be moved longitudinally and/or diagonally on either side of the rail 22 whereby the positioning is accomplished best suited for the person using the same, and then clamped to the rail.

It is also encompassed by this invention that the clamp 34 and its appendages could be placed on the rail 20 if the right arm is to be supported, or on the brace tube 18 if the arm to be supported must be positioned in the front of a person. The invention also contemplates that the interior of the semicircular arm plate 48 may be padded without departing from the spirit ofthis invention.

Although but one specific embodiment of this invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous details of the construction shown may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A walker for use by invalids, said walker comprising a framework including side and front rails positioned at the top of the framework and an armrest adjustably clamped to a rail, said armrest comprising a pair of telescoping elongated members arranged for vertical adjustment one to the other, a clamp integrally connected to the lower end of one of said members, said clamp tightly embracing said rail and being positionable at various locations longitudinally of the rail and capable of adjustment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail by loosening the clamp and then tightening it to tightly embrace the rail at its new position, and a generally horizontally extending trough positioned at the top of the other telescoping member, said trough being free of obstructions at either end or intermediate its length whereby a user of the walker may place an incapacitated arm in the trough for support and guide the walker with his other arm. 

1. A walker for use by invalids, said walker comprising a framework including side and front rails positioned at the top of the framework and an armrest adjustably clamped to a rail, said armrest comprising a pair of telescoping elongated members arranged for vertical adjustment one to the other, a clamp integrally connected to the lower end of one of said members, said clamp tightly embracing said rail and being positionable at various locations longitudinally of the rail and capable of adjustment with respect to the longitudinal axis of the rail by loosening the clamp and then tightening it to tightly embrace the rail at its new position, and a generally horizontally extending trough positioned at the top of the other telescoping member, said trough being free of obstructions at either end or intermediate its length whereby a user of the walker may place an incapacitated arm in the trough for support and guide the walker with his other arm. 